Grand jury declines to indict Dover officer

A Kent County Superior Court grand jury on March 10 declined to indict a Dover Police officer following complaints he used excessive force.

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By Staff reports

Dover Post

By Staff reports

Posted Mar. 10, 2014 at 4:48 PM

By Staff reports

Posted Mar. 10, 2014 at 4:48 PM

Dover, Del.

A Kent County Superior Court grand jury on Monday declined to indict a Dover Police officer on charges he used excessive force while making an arrest in August 2013.

Cpl. Thomas W. Webster IV, 40, was suspended with pay on Nov. 4 following an internal investigation, said department spokesman Cpl. Mark Hoffman. The suspension was not announced publicly in keeping with department policy, Hoffman said.

The investigation began after one of the men arrested, Lateef Dickerson, 29, filed a complaint with Dover Police on Oct. 13.

Webster remains on suspension with pay, Hoffman said, pending the final results of the internal police investigation.

“We understand and respect the decision handed down by the grand jury today,” Hoffman said. “Our internal investigation was pending the outcome of the criminal case, and we need to finish that up.”

The investigation was put on hold until the grand jury reached a decision, Hoffman said.

Department of Justice spokesman Joe Rogalsky acknowledged the grand jury’s decision, but because those proceedings are confidential, declined to go into detail.

“Clearly, we thought there is enough evidence to support an indictment,” Rogalsky said. “We still think there is enough evidence. We cannot comment on anything beyond that.”